The Whalers' Mike Atkinson gets set to fire a backhander against the Thousand Islands Privateers during the FHL semifinal playoff game Saturday night, Mar. 9, 2013, at the Danbury Arena.
Photo: Barry Horn

The Whalers' Mike Atkinson gets set to fire a backhander against...

Danbury's James Sanford blasts a slap shot from the point during a Whalers power play in a FHL semifinal playoff game against Thousand Islands Sunday night, Oct. 10, 2013, at the Danbury Arena.
Photo: Barry Horn

The Whalers' Mike Atkinson has his shot off a rebound stopped by Thousand Islands goalie Matt Anthony during a Federal Hockey League semifinal playoff game Sunday night, Mar. 10, 2013, at the Danbury Arena.
Photo: Barry Horn

The Whalers' Mike Atkinson has his shot off a rebound stopped by Thousand Islands goalie Matt Anthony during a Federal Hockey League semifinal playoff game Sunday night, Mar. 10, 2013, at the Danbury Arena.
Photo: Barry Horn

The Whalers' Mike Atkinson has his shot off a rebound stopped by...

The Whalers' Alex Kirschner blasts a shot against the Thousand Islands Privateers during an FHL semifinal playoff game Saturday night, Mar. 9, 2013, at the Danbury Arena.
Photo: Barry Horn

The Whalers' Alex Kirschner blasts a shot against the Thousand...

The Whalers' Kamil Vavra (71) tries to get around the Privateers' Sean Walsh and get to the puck that is pounced on by goalie Matt Anthony during FHL semifinal playoff play Saturday night, Mar. 9, 2013, at the Danbury Arena.
Photo: Barry Horn

More than three years have passed, but Danbury Whalers CEO and Managing General Partner Herm Sorcher remembers it like it happened yesterday.

In front of a group of Federal Hockey League officials, city dignitaries and rabid hockey fans at the Danbury Arena, Sorcher -- with his eyes welling up with tears of joy -- announced he was bringing professional hockey back to Danbury.

And with his team only one win away from capturing the city's first professional hockey championship, Sorcher couldn't help but reflect on the long and winding road the Whalers have taken to get here. They lead the Dayton Demonz 2-0 in their best-of-five Commissioner's Cup finals series and can claim the title with a win in Game 3, set for Friday at 7:35 p.m. at the Danbury Arena.

"It's unbelievable to think of where the team was on Dec. 29, 2009, when we announced the franchise and just how far it has come since that day," Sorcher said in a phone interview Tuesday afternoon. "I'm really looking forward to the game on Friday and seeing the fans in the building. It's amazing how the team has come together. They are really playing some perfect hockey."

And how perfect would it be to bring the city its first title after several close calls?

The Danbury Trashers carved out two deep playoff runs in their two seasons in the United Hockey League. In 2004-05, their inaugural season, the Trashers advanced to the Colonial Cup semifinals before falling to the Muskegon Fury. The following year, the Trashers advanced to the finals before losing to the Kalamazoo Wings.

"There have been some legendary players who played in Danbury and those guys are revered," Sorcher said. "And these guys right now have a chance to do something that no one else has done."

The Whalers have qualified for the playoffs all three of their years in the FHL. Two years ago, they lost in the semifinals to the New York Aviators. Last year, they lost in the finals to the New Jersey Outlaws.

"To never have a championship in this city, we kind of hoped that we could be the ones to get it," Sorcher said. "There have certainly been some close runs by some other teams and we reached the finals last year. To be the pro hockey team in this city, it's incredible. To be the pro hockey team as champions in this city is unimaginable. I can't even imagine what the celebration would be like -- if they can pull it off. We still have to win one more game here."

And that point cannot be emphasized enough in the days leading up to Friday's game. The Whalers haven't won anything yet, and to let up on the gas at this point would be a costly mistake. The Demonz, remember, were by far the best team in the FHL in the regular season. They finished first by 37 points in the standings, won more than 80 percent of their games and scored 100 more goals than any other team. Dayton is an explosive team that will be playing desperate hockey Friday night. If necessary, Game 4 will be Saturday at the Danbury Arena at 7:35 p.m. If needed, a deciding Game 5 would be played in Dayton, Ohio, on Monday.